King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Work To See God Work
Date: Wednesday April 18, 2012
Today's Chapters: 2 Kings 4-5

Hello My Friend,

Do you want to see how fast you can clear a room? Mention the word work. People will scatter faster than you can blink your eyes. The word work actually means to move, it's an effort to get something done. Of course, some labor is involved, such as using your brain, hands, or feet. We live in a generation today that seeks to get the most out of doing absolutely nothing, many people today are not willing to do any work to accomplish anything, but want everything given to them. They have no ambition to succeed, no drive to strive, to get them to do something is near impossible, and if you do ask them, the response is, “What are you going to give me for it?” While work does not save us, work is necessary to produce the faith needed to get things done. “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?..Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works...But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?..For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” - James 2:14,17,18,20,26.

When Elisha asked Elijah for a double potion of his spirit before he got caught up in the whirlwind that would take him to heaven perhaps he did not know what that would entail. Elisha not only received that double portion he became the most sought after man of God in the country. “Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full...Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.” - 2 Kings 4:1-4,7.

Sometimes physical work is needed to see God work., Elisha put the woman and her sons to work. He instructed them to go and borrow as many empty pots as they could, then fill the pots with the oil she had. By borrowing the empty pots, they could return them without owing anymore debt, it also allowed her to see the miracle of God as He multiplied the oil to fill all of the pots and then some, not only paying off the debt without owing anything else, but still having some left over to provide for here family. God will always provide us with what we need, He will even provide us with the funds to get out of debt. We have a debt to pay for sin, death and hell. Jesus paid that debt when He died on the cross therefore, He will help anyone get out of debt, but they must ask Him. That is the work or effort needed to be saved. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Romans 6:23.

A little later Elisha met a woman, who was hospitable toward him whenever he passed through town, she even had a room made for him to stay in while he was there. Elisha asked her what he could do for her, she desperately wanted a child and the following year she had a son. Her joy would soon turn grievous when he suddenly died. Frantic, the woman went to Elisha for help. “And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD. And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.” - 2 Kings 4:32-35.

Sometimes spiritual work is needed to see God work, God simply wants to hear our prayers and lots of them. When we pray to God, we have faith, we believe, and we have hope, it takes work to pray, but the more you pray the more faith, belief, and hope you receive, then when we have said that last prayer, God will show us His work. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” - Matthew 21:21,22.

By the way, Elisha used every natural means in his power to restore the boy's life, while begging God to do His part. Natural means what is in our power to do, but those that are supernatural belong to God. God knows what is best for His children, He sees beyond what we see on the surface, whether He decides it is time to bring one of His children home or keep them on earth a little longer, He knows what is best. As we do our part, and beg God to do His part we are assured the best outcome. However, if all we do is sit there hoping for the best and never make an effort we will never see God's power. “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” - Mark 11:24-26.

Now, we come to a man named Naaman, he was a chief captain in the military, a mighty man of valor, he had one problem, he was leprous. Desperately seeking a cure for his illness he seeks help from Elisha. “And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean...And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” - 2 Kings 5:10,13,14.

Sometimes the work of cleansing is what us needed to see God work, seeking forgiveness of ones own sins or forgiving those who have sinned against you. At first, Naaman did not want to to wash himself, once maybe, but seven times, he probably thought it was silly, but after some encouragement he what he was instructed to do and was miraculously healed. God wants to show us His work, but He also wants us to do some work also, whether we are helping others, praying, or simply cleaning up, when we show Him that we are willing to do our part, He will gladly show is that it's time for Him to do His part. “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,.. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” - Hebrews 6:1,10.

Today's Psalm: 128:2 - “For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.”

Today's Proverb: 8:32,33 - “Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.”

Today's Prayer: God, As I do the work that is in my power to do I am fully trusting in You to do the work You need to do to get me the things I need and even desire. God, search my heart, know my thoughts, show me any hindrances that are keeping me from seeing You answer my prayers or even my lack of prayer. Help me do the work You want me to do to get what I am asking Your for, give me Your strength, wisdom, guidance, and show me what I need to do to accomplish my part of seeing You work miracles in my life. I ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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